The Communist Party of India- Marxist, aspiring to return to power in Kerala, on Friday decided to bring veteran leader V S Achuthanandan back into the electoral fray.

The decision on Achuthanandan, whose exclusion had led to resentment among the party cadre, was taken at a meeting of the party's state committee after the politburo prevailed over the state secretariat.

"The politburo felt that we have to reconsider the decision not to field Achuthanandan and Pinarayi Vijayan.

"The (party state) secretariat and committee met again today to consider the issue and we have decided that Achuthanandan should contest," senior leader Prakash Karat said.

He said the candidature of Achuthanandan, the leader of the opposition, was not decided on account of any protest from the public.

On the leadership issue, he said it had been the general practice of the party to decide the leadership issue after the elections. "Our main goal is to fight and win the elections." Asked whether there would be changes in the list of candidates, Karat said there could be some changes and it would be finalised soon.